Gymnastic apparatus



(No Model.)

W. A. SMITH.

GYMNASTIO APPARATUS.

No. 258,146. Patented May1 6,1882.

' Q V B- UNiTEn STATES TATENT union.

, VWILLIA'M A. SMITH, or WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

GYMNASTIC APPARATUS.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,146, dated May 16,1882, Application filed March 21, 1852. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. SMITH, of Wilmington, in the county ofNew Castle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Gymnastic Apparatlrs, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

My invention consists in a novel construction and combination of twovertical bars connected bya jointed horizontal brace, and havin g theirupper ends provided with spurs for the purpose of engaging with the topof a door-frame and their lower ends formed into hooks and engaging witha removable horizontal bar, whereby an exercising frame or trapeze isproduced which can be readily applied to a door-frame or other suitablerestingplace, and can be folded in small compass for paeking orcarrying.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view of my invention applied to the top of adoorframe. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same.

AArepresent two flat iron bars about seveneighths of an inch wide, andabout one-quar terof an inch thick. Each bar has about one inch of itsupper end bent at a right angle to its length and provided with a spur,B, attached thereto by inserting it in a hole therein and riveting itsecurely. The lower end of each bar is bent to form a half-round elasticbook, at. These two bars A A are connected about midway of their lengthby a brace, D, consisting of two bars having theirinner ends pivoted toeach other, and their outer ends pivoted to said barsA. Aroundbar,O,aboi1t one inch and a half in diameter, is provided near its endswith peripherical grooves e, of suitable width and depth to allow thehooks a tofit nicely therein, so as to hold the bar sufficiently tightfor use, but allow it to be easily removed when desired. Beyond thegrooves c the ends may be formed into knobs f, or any desired ornamentaldesign. The upper portion of each bar A is provided with a jacket orcasing, g, of chamoisskiu, rubber, or other suitable soft material.

In using this apparatus the upper ends of the bars A are hooked over thetop of a door frame, It, or a beam, or other suitable stationaryresting-place, so that the spurs B will e11- ter the wood and preventthe apparatus from slipping. It is then used by grasping the bar 0 inthe same manner as an ordinary trapeze. The advantages of myinventionare: It is cheap and simple in construction, strong anddurable, and not liable to get out of order. It can be readily placed inposition for use, and as readily removed and folded into a smallcompass, so as to beeasily carriedifi the hand or packed in a trunk. Itdoes not requirethe insertion of hooks or eyes in a door-frame or beamin order to attach it, and is for that reason very convenient fortravelers. Thejacket or casin g g prevents the bar A from defacing thewood-work ot' the (lOOI flkllllG or other object to which the apparatusmay be applied.

'Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A portable gymnastic or exercising apparatus, consisting oftwo'vertical bars, A A, having their upper ends provided with spurs B,and their lower ends formed into hooks a, a horizontal connecting-brace,D, and a horizontal exercising -bar, (J, substantially as hereindescribed.

2. The combination, with the vertical bars A A, of the horizontalconnecting-brace D, consisting of two bars having their outer endspivoted to said bars A, and their inner ends pivoted to each other,substantially as herein described.

7 WILLIAM A. SMITH.

Witnesses:

- GEORGE N. COMLY, HENRYR. (100mm.

